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Established in 1942 as Naples Army Airfield by the United States Army Air Forces. Assigned initially to the Southeast Training Center (later Eastern Flying Training Command). Provided basic (level 1) flight training to flight cadets by Embry-Riddle Co; Fairchild PT-19s were the primary trainer used. Along with the flight training, was a sub-base to Buckingham Army Airfield for flexible gunnery training. Inactivated on November 1, 1945, being turned over to the War Assets Administration for conveyance to civil control as a public airport.

For the 12-month period ending September 30, 2011, the airport had 84,339 aircraft operations, an average of 231 per day: 91% general aviation, 9% air taxi, and <1% military. At that time there were 309 aircraft based at this airport: 63% single-engine, 21% multi-engine, 12% jet, and 4% helicopter.[1]

On September 10, 1985, a Douglas DC-3 of Collier County Mosquito Control District crashed at East Naples while on approach to Naples Municipal Airport following an engine failure. The aircraft was on agricultural duties at the time.[13]

On June 20, 2005, a Cessna 182 departing Naples Municipal Airport entered an area of severe weather over the Gulf of Mexico. The aircraft was never recovered, with the crash resulting in one fatality.[14]